Offshore staff
HOUSTON -- CorDEX Instruments has introduced UT5000, a hand-held ultrasonic tool for detecting corrosion in pipelines. It can be used to rapidly measure metal thickness in order to establish the extent of corrosion.
The tool employs RFID technology to locate and log up to 1,000 measurements, each linked to a specific location, date and time. According to Cordex, it can be used for days or weeks in the field prior to data downloads, providing accurate corrosion analysis and helping to predict potential failures.
A corrosion mode helps identify thinning spots, and use of MultiECHO technology improves measurement accuracy on uneven surfaces.
The intrinsically safe tool can be used offshore without the need to obtain ‘hot work’ permits. This, Cordex claims, should make it ideal in the North Sea and Gulf of Mexico, where many installations have exceeded their original design life.
05/03/2011
